ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH SURVEY

The Australian Health Survey (AHS) includes a nationally representative sample of around 13,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As part of the Australian Health Survey, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS) which commenced in April 2012 collects information from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in non-remote areas and remote areas, including discrete communities. It combines the existing ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) together with two new elements - a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) and a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey (NATSIHMS).

The new components were made possible by additional funding from the Australian Government Department of Health as well as the National Heart Foundation of Australia. The survey was developed with the assistance of an advisory group comprised of experts in health issues.

The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey commenced across Australia in April 2012, involving people living in non-remote and remote areas. As with previous ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander surveys, additional sample was collected in the Torres Strait Area, to ensure data of sufficient quality would be available for the Torres Strait Area and the remainder of Queensland. The survey expands on the information collected about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in previous health surveys conducted by the ABS, and will include:

estimates of the prevalence of certain chronic diseases and conditions and selected behavioural risk factors- including physical activity participation and sedentary behaviour

objective measures of selected chronic diseases, nutrition status and other risk factors which can be combined with self-reported data about health status and conditions (e.g. diabetes)

health risk factors and outcomes for different population groups of interest, such as different age groups and people living in remote and non-remote areas.